7.6 earthquake strikes Panama, tsunami alerts issued for several countries
Parts of buildings collapsed in Panama after a magnitude 7.6 quake on Friday, and tsunami warnings were issued for coastal areas of several countries.
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Strong tremors were felt one after another in Panama, in Central America, on Friday morning. They measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. According to official information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was near the southern tip of Panama, just 10 km south-west of Pitalosa Ariba, at a depth of 10 km. Because of the shallow depth, the tremors were felt very strongly and the whole of Panama City shook.
Buildings swayed violently in the capital, Panama City. Frightened people ran to streets and open spaces to save themselves. Several frightening videos of the earthquake are going viral on social media. They show the ground shaking and parts of old buildings breaking off and falling. In Panonome, a town in the middle of Panama, the tower of a historic building and the balconies of some residential buildings collapsed.
In view of the powerful quake, the National Weather Service of the United States and international agencies have taken strict measures. A tsunami warning has been issued along Panama's coast and for several countries of South and Central America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. People in coastal areas have been ordered to move to safe places immediately.
To keep the situation under control, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino appealed to people to remain calm and not panic. In a clear message on social media, he said this unfortunate event must not be used to spread rumours or needless panic in society. As a precaution, the Education Ministry has directed that schools and educational institutions remain closed with immediate effect. Emergency teams and the Sinaproc team have been deployed in relief work, and affected areas are being inspected on the ground. Mulino himself visited Penonome and, together with Minister Montalvo, spoke of going to the affected areas to coordinate help and solutions.
Friendly countries of Latin America have come forward to help Panama in this hour of crisis. Countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Peru, El Salvador and Honduras have contacted the Panama government and expressed readiness to help. President Mulino thanked the leaders of these countries, as well as the US Secretary of State and hundreds of mayors, organisations and citizens, for their messages of support and solidarity.
The government is working on a war footing to provide temporary shelter, food and medical help to those affected. The Panama administration has expressed relief that a large loss of life was averted, but vigil along the coast continues because of the tsunami warning.
